Social Security Questions and Answers

Sharon, do glad for you, god just has his little ways to help us and now is your time.

srbl62 - Good for you! It sounds like a "just in time" moment and what a wonderful one! You must feel such a weight has been lifted from  you and your family. 

Thank you to all,

We are having pizza papalis tonight. I haven't had that in years, and maybe an apple martini. WOOOOO!!! WOOOOOO!!!

Congrats Sharon!  Can understand about your tears when it "finally" arrived.  I think I will faint and have to need even more meds for heart palpitations.  It has been over 2 years for our family so the waiting can be rough.  Your getting approved gives us hope so we are very happy for you.

BTW, someone mentioned Medicare comes with it but from what I have researched, it has no RX plan so it seems one has to buy a seperate RX plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan to pick up what Medicare doesn't cover.  Am I correct about this?  Just wondering what those who were approved and got Medicare have done about this.  Thanks!

Steven or anyone who knows:  My relative got a letter from Social Security Adm. today stating "Notice of Decision - Fully Favorable".  She and we are very confused because it states in it "Another office will process my decision and decide if you meet the non-disability requirements for Supplemental Security Income payments".  It also gave her a date for this local meeting.  Her attorney is closed today and we are all stressed over this because we don't know what it means.  Did those of you who got approved receive such a letter?  When do they let you know about any Disability payments etc.?  Is that all done at the meeting they have set up?  We want so badly to be happy about the letter but we don't understand the process and what is going on.  Any info anyone can share will be greatly appreciate so we can tell our relative if she has won her case or not.  Thanks so much for your help and advice.

Chicadee:  Thanks for the reply.  She has an attorney who is closed today.  I hope he can understand what is going on.  I was told he applied for SSI just in case she got disapproved for SSDI so maybe he can sort this out if they are trying to do to her what they did to your son.  I know the restrictions for SSI are terrible compared to SSDI so I sure hope it can be fixed.  The Appeal Judge was for the SSDI so I would think his Approval was for that.  We'll see. Thanks again.

Sorry to be such a bother but I can't find an answer to my question.  When any of you won your SSDI cases, can you tell me if you had to apply for Supplemental Security Income also?  How is SSI involved if one is supposed to be getting benefits from SSDI for disability?.  My relative has her appointment letter but it is concerning supplemental security income and they want information about Proof of Income etc. Why is this needed if one is already approved for SSDI??  I am very confused about how the system works and if anyone can answer these questions, it will be much appreciated.  Thank you very much. (BTW, if the answer is already posted, would you tell me where?)

When I applied for SSDI, I did not apply for Supplemental Security Income and I did not have to answer any questions about income.  I would think you could pass on the income questions, just be sure to clarify you have no expectation of SSI.

LurVing:  I was told she cannot disqualify herself from SSI since her attorney already put through the request for both.  We know her SSDI benefit would be higher than the SSI due to her work record and what we were told by SSA before she applied for disability.  Now the records are closed because she has a case and a lawyer.  She also qualifies for SSI because she meets their requirements.  However, we need to make sure she gets approved for the SSDI so she can get the Medicare.  Many of her doctors do not accept Medicaid which comes with SSI.  It would be more rational if they checked the clients for SSDI first and then do the SSI if they have low SSDI benefits but that is not the way they seem to do it.  We have to wait until they check her for SSI first even if she doesn't want it and has to go to the SSI meeting.   Why does everything have to be so complicated when it comes to the government?

Btw, she was told they don't add your SSDI and SSI amounts together as she originally thought.  They just try to add SSI to your SSDI if you have a low SSDI benefit amount to bring you up to at least the $710 which SSI gives.

At least this is what Social Security rep explained to her.  Too bad we didn't know this in the beginning.  If this info is not what others were told, please let me know.  Thanks for any additional info you can share.

LuvRVing:  Since it has taken almost 2 years for her to be Approved (including the Appeal)  and her disability date is 5/24/11, she should not have to wait too long to get on Medicare.  I am paying for COBRA for her now and it sure will be great to be able to get her on Medicare!  I just have to make sure I don't cancel COBRA until I can get her exact Medicare effective date.   I was told the SSI is only for the 5 months while she awaits her SSDI benefits which should be more than SSI benefits.

Posters:  I received a very concerning surprise when I went to the social security meeting with my DD this week.  She got her Approval letter in the mail from the Judge and also the SS Meeting date.  We had no idea that one cannot opt out of SSI once it is on an Application with SSDI!  We also did not know that she could not keep any funds over $2000 in her bank account even if it was insurance payouts etc.  We brought the latest bank statements but theagent said we had to get her two years more of statements from 2011 until 2013 so she could see if my DD had any other money over $2,000.   I asked if we could just opt out of SSI and just go on with SSDI and she said she couldn't opt out now.  She also insisted that any back pay l sums would be taken out of her SSI payments.  I never heard of this but when I called later to another SS rep was told that is what some agents are doing now.  Have any of you had this done to your back pay?  Everything I have read says it is taken out of SSDI benefits.

I took the stack of bank statements to the agent this morning so we could find out asap what is going to happen with  DD's  claim.  I don't want the SSDI benefits held up due to this mess with SSI.  I also left her copies of my DD's prepaid funeral plan which we bought for her in 2007 to see if she is going to accept it or say I have to make it Irrevocable.  If DD is going to be turned down for SSI, I don't see why I should change the Funeral contract ahead of time.  So it looks like the misery is not over for us yet.  I do hope her agent will be more cooperative with us and not hold up the claim  and when she will get her Medicare.  If anyone can help me understand what is going on about the SSI backpay, I would appreciate any info.  Thanks!

Chickadee:  Yes she has an attorney but he said he doesn't go to these type meetings.  The rep at the meeting said most attorneys don't attend.  I had sent him an email before the meeting asking him about what to say about certain issues and they just fluffed me off and said "it was going to be no big deal".  I had a folder full of documents to present if needed but the SSA agent was only concerned with her bank accounts for the past 2 years.  I just want to make sure DD gets the SSDI back pay and her payments are correct.  How I wish our Steven lived in my city!  He has given me more answers to my concerns for free than her guy has given us to date!  I'm sure if he thinks the agent is going to do something to affect his 25% fee, we will hear from him!  I am still waiting for him and his office manager to answer my email from yesterday. 

Hi Chickadee:  I tried PMing Steven a couple of weeks ago but got no response.  He might be busy with his clients or helping his sick wife.  I hate to bother him since he does help us for free.  BTW,  that SS rep has on the SSI Review Application that my DD will get her first SSDI check in May 2013.  Is that possible?  I always thought the backpay comes before the first SSDI check.  She also does not make any mention of any SSDI backpay.  When I asked her she said that info will come in a letter to her later on.  I thought I understood how this works but now I am a confused basketcase with a bedroom full of documents.  Also, do you are anyone else know why they did not do a Review on my DD's SSDI's Application like they did on SSI?  Does that mean she is considered eligible for SSDI?

Also, her attorney sent her a letter telling her they only look back 12 months for backpay and there is a 5 month waiting period.  In English, does that mean since her first Application was 6/2011 that she just gets 12months x her SSDI monthly benefit minus his fee and they deduct 5 months from that? If they do, then she really only gets 7 months of backpay??  Chickadee, do you understand how this works?  Does she get 12 months or just 7 months of backpay??  I am so sorry to  bother you about this but I can't seem to find the answer on the SS website.  Thanks so much for your help!

Laurie:  Thanks for the info.  For example if her disability date is 5/27/11 and she first filed on 6/6/11 but had to Appeal and got her Approval for SSDI on 3/2013, her backpay should be available 10/2013?  Can you tell me from the dates I have posted how many months of backpay she would then be entitled to?  I am still confused about that part.  Thanks and much appreciation  for your help.  

Medigal

Ladies:  Thank you both for your help.   If anyone can just give me one last answer, I will leave you at peace.  Does anyone know what they pay first?  The Backpay for SSDI or the SSDI monthly check?  Her agent at social security has her getting her first SSDI monthly check in May.  If anyone was a part of this will you please let me know what happened in your case?  Thanks so much for your help and your patience with my questions.